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11-15-2020, 10:58 AM | #1 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: BC Canada
Posts: 573
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Ignition switch woes
For testing purposes can the ignition switch be replaced with a basic 30A toggle switch? On a '38 fordor.
Been having a heck of a time tracing an intermittent issue causing the car to die. Figured out last night no power was getting to the coil from the ignition switch, well at least not all the time. When I hooked my multimeter to the switch and wiggle it in the on position power would cut in and out... Second question. When testing resistance on an ignition coil, what should primary and secondary readings be? The coil is 42-48 style. |
11-15-2020, 12:11 PM | #2 |
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Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Williamsburg, VA
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Re: Ignition switch woes
Rebuilding the ignition switch is tricky but doable by anyone with reasonable small-motor coordination. I did it decades ago on my '35 coupe and would not want to have to do it again. To prolong the life of the ignition switch on my '41, all of the accessories (heater, wipers, radio, GPS, phone dock, turn signals, etc.) are on a separate power switch under the dash lip. The only things I have on the ignition switch are the coil and the electric fuel pump. It would be pretty easy to put those on the added switch as well, but I would want the ignition on a separate switch for those times when I want to listen to the radio with the engine off. .
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11-15-2020, 12:39 PM | #3 | |
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Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Christchurch New Zealand
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Re: Ignition switch woes
Quote:
Guessing coil resiistance, primarly around 0.8 ohm secondary 6 to 8 kohms. Presuming 6v system. Phil NZ |
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11-15-2020, 12:43 PM | #4 |
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Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 134
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Re: Ignition switch woes
I set up all accessories on a relay that is another way to reduce the load on the switch.
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11-15-2020, 01:19 PM | #5 |
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: Alabama
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Re: Ignition switch woes
Also check resister under the dash for Dirty or loose connections.
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11-15-2020, 06:42 PM | #6 |
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Location: BC Canada
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Re: Ignition switch woes
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My coil reads 0.6ohms primary and 6.55ohms secondary. I have another coil which reads the exact same. It came with the car in a box of parts but not sure if maybe it's been rebuild as it has a black cap and brown lower case. The seal doesn't look new but did these coils ever come from the factory black and brown? Says "made in USA" on the top and a "C" on the bottom. I'm going to try it out and carry the known working one with just in case. |
11-15-2020, 09:20 PM | #7 |
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: Lexington, NC
Posts: 860
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Re: Ignition switch woes
I have a Ford script '37-'41 coil that is black and brown, so at least there were a few that got mixed in their manufacturing.
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11-16-2020, 07:13 AM | #8 |
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Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 4,750
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Re: Ignition switch woes
The ignition switch needs replacement and i believe your not reading the Ohms correctly should be on the K (Thousand) ohm scale for the secondary.
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11-16-2020, 02:00 PM | #9 |
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Location: BC Canada
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Re: Ignition switch woes
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11-17-2020, 04:46 PM | #10 |
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: pittsfield, MA
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Re: Ignition switch woes
Some time ago, GM (George Mitchell) posted instructions on removing and cleaning the switch, He demonstrated it to some of us when we visited him in his shop. Maybe he will re-post it.
John |
11-18-2020, 12:00 PM | #11 |
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Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: BC Canada
Posts: 573
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Re: Ignition switch woes
I ended up pulling it apart and cleaning the contacts with a little wire wheel on a dremel. The outer inset edge didnt sit proper on the metal case so it was worked a little with a file. Once reassembled it fit together and works great. I'm terrible with remembering before and after photos, so no pic of cleaned up switch....
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